EUROPEAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS PERCEPTIONS OF CRIMES COMMITTED BY 5 RACIAL GROUPS

Past research examined perceptions of crimes believed to be committed by African Americans (Sunnafrank & Fontes, 1983), Hispanics (Bodenhaus en, 1990; Bodenhausen & Wyer, 1985), and European Americans. Research also indicated stereotypical crime commission results in higher culpab ility assignment for African Americans (Feild, 1979; Gordon, 1990, 199 3; Gordon, Bindrim, McNicholas, & Walden, 1988) and Hispanics (Bodenha usen, 1988, 1990; Bodenhausen & Lightenstein, 1987). This study expand ed earlier assessments of perceived crime stereotypicality by examinin g different crime categories and including additional male racial grou ps. The groups examined were European Americans, African Americans, Hi spanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans. Results indic ated perceptions of crime stereotypicality differed significantly betw een the groups, confirming earlier results and providing additional in sight into consensual beliefs about crime commission. The identified s tereotypical crimes will be useful in future research on biased culpab ility assignment.